The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-10-06

He did not know where the property
room was; there was no one to tell
him. The corridors were almost de-
serted by the f ing troupe; but above
the flames swel cd and leaped, belch-
ing forth sparks and smoke that threat
ened to choke him. From behind the
fire-curtain he heard the roar of the
terrified audience, like so MANY wild
beasts tryil.g to burst their cage.
Marguerite! Margueriter he cried.
But there came no reply.
To the right and left he ran, in one
door and out another, till at last he
came upon limp, white figure lying
on the floor of the deserted room.
''Marguerite-thank Heavenm he
cried, fervently.
And catching her in his arms, he
turned to retrace his steps.
His voice and touch seemed to
arouse her. She opened her ewes and
smiled-smiled with death staring her
in the face, for Wyndham's passage
was barred by flame. He knew not
which way to turn.
''It is thou" she said, softly. in
French. Il saw thee from the very
first"
Marguerite, he whispered, hold
ing her close in his arms. There is
40 place for US to 90. We cannot es-
cape. Are you afraid to die with me,
dearest?"
No" she answered, with fearless
smile; but her eyes met his hopeless
look with fresh inspiration. LET
me go, monsieur" she said, quickly.
Come with me. / know a way. Take
my hand-sow
He obeyed her, and hand in hand
they fed together down through a trap
under the stage, and into long, mar
row passage, which terminated in an
exit into the Rue Marivaux
''This is for the administration" !"
she explained. Il was on my way
here from the property-room when l
tainted. If you had not come, mon
sieur, should have been left behind. !"
He pressed her hand warmly as they
hurried on.
"Open the door," she said.
And Wyndham sprang forward to
obey her, but fell back with a groan.
''lt is locked" he cried, wrenching
the knob futilely. There is no keyr
Marguerite'5 little hands were quick
ly dashed against the panels of the
door. Wyndham vainly strove to
hammer them in with his boots, or at
tract attention from without. But the
awful din around the building pre-
vented them from being heard
The tiremen had arrived, and their
shouts mingled with the shrieks of the
crowd assembled. The struggling
mass of people swarming out of the
opera house drowned all minor noises.
1--WE are trapped! Wyndham said,
in agony. eve cannot get back now,
my poor little Margueritew
With low sob, her head sank on his
shoulder.
''As Heaven wills it," she whispered.
81 am not afraid here"
Wyndham's arms were around her;
his face close to hers.
'Do you love mep" he asked, SOL
EMMY.
Truly, monsieur" she replied, her
arms clinging close about his neck.
Then why did you 90 away?" he
asked. why did you not let me know
where to find you?"
81 was poor" she said Il had to
earn my living. And how could a
young girl have stayed on there with
out-without- You know l could
not"
But meant to ask you to marry
me- he said, quickly.
Yes" she answered; "but Mon
sieur Mangam, your uncle, said that
could not be; that it was not right for
you to marry me, because you would
lose everything by that"
Wyndham shut his teeth hard.
Tell me, Marguerite" he said.
Would you marry me now? ] am
rich man. My uncle is dead. Would
you be my wife now?"
"If l only could" she sighed. Il
have always loved you"
A new light broke over his face.
"Oh," he cried, ''to think that we
must die now! Just when | have
found you, my darling. Oh, it is hard
to die!'
''Hark" she cried, ''tbere is some
oneT
There were hurried steps on the
pavement. Some one shouted without,
and the two voices within sent forth
an answering shout.
Then came some swift, laundering
blows against the lock. 1t burst open;
the door was flung back, and they
were free.
Wyndham staggered out with Mar
guerite in his arms.
''Look up, my pearl" he whispered.
But the head had sunk, insensible,
on his breast, and she knew nothing.
Some one caught Wyndhams arm.
Lester" cried Paul Toy. "Good
heavens! is it you?"
1T is I!' he answered, fervently.
"And this is the girl you asked me
about this evening. Get a carriage,
Paul"
The young lady?"
"Goes with us. Do not be surprised.
She will be my wife tomorrow"
Paul Toy asked no questions. His
thoughts were taken up with the
blessedness of having saved his friend
from a horrible death
He had come to the theater as by his
appointment, and found it in flames.
He knew it was useless to search for
Wyndham in the awful confusion of
that scene; but by chance he saw that
the door into the Rue Marivaux was
not open. He had often gone into the
Opera Comique by that door with
members IF the administration. Per-
haps it might serve as an exit to some
who were imprisoned in that burning
building.
Half dozen men rushed to open it
at his suggestion, and then-Lester
Wyndham had staggered out.
The full extent of that awful horror
was not known to these three till the
next day, when the work of bringing
the dead from the ruins was sadly be-
gun.
Over that let us draw a veil. The
story has been told, with all its horri-
bic details, by journals in all countries.
But amid all the dreadful misery
that night entailed, it is pleasant to
think that the burning of the Opera
Comique brought with it the happi-
ness of, at least, two loving souls.